A one-armed industrial robot assembles a portion of a motor at a Delta Electronics research center in Taichung, Taiwan. The robot is being integrated into the assembly lines of Delta's factories this year, and the company hopes to sell a version of the robot for as little as $10,000 in three years.

A one-armed industrial robot assembles a portion of a motor at a Delta Electronics research center in Taichung, Taiwan. The robot is being integrated into the assembly lines of Delta's factories this year, and the company hopes to sell a version of the robot for as little as $10,000 in three years.

A display of some of the automation controllers made by Delta Electronics. The company has long made power adapters for brands like Apple but last year it began a more ambitious project: to build robots cheap enough to replace human workers in China's electronics factories.

A display of some of the automation controllers made by Delta Electronics. The company has long made power adapters for brands like Apple but last year it began a more ambitious project: to build robots cheap enough to replace human workers in China's electronics factories.

A robot checks circuit boards for flaws at the Delta Electronics headquarters. Over the next five years these technologies will transform China's factories, executives say, and also fill a growing labor shortage as the country's youth become increasingly unwilling to perform manual labor.

A robot checks circuit boards for flaws at the Delta Electronics headquarters. Over the next five years these technologies will transform China's factories, executives say, and also fill a growing labor shortage as the country's youth become increasingly unwilling to perform manual labor.

Engineers at Delta Electronics test industrial robots. The advancements in robotics has led to hopes that electronics firms will bring some manufacturing back to the U.S. But industry followers say electronics assembly is likely to stay in China even as automation becomes easier because the larger component supply chain is in the country.

Engineers at Delta Electronics test industrial robots. The advancements in robotics has led to hopes that electronics firms will bring some manufacturing back to the U.S. But industry followers say electronics assembly is likely to stay in China even as automation becomes easier because the larger component supply chain is in the country.

A display shows the automated production lines at the company's factories. The Taiwanese company is focusing its automation efforts on the most dangerous and laborious manufacturing tasks, said Chief Financial Officer Charles Lin.

A display shows the automated production lines at the company's factories. The Taiwanese company is focusing its automation efforts on the most dangerous and laborious manufacturing tasks, said Chief Financial Officer Charles Lin.

A concept robot assembles a jigsaw puzzle at the Delta Electronics headquarters. Robots have long been technically capable of the tasks required for final assembly: placing components on circuit boards, affixing circuit boards into casings, screwing together the casings and cleaning off the devices. But human hands are still considerably cheaper for such jobs in China, although the cost gap is shrinking, with China's wages rising by a double-digit percentage annually.

A concept robot assembles a jigsaw puzzle at the Delta Electronics headquarters. Robots have long been technically capable of the tasks required for final assembly: placing components on circuit boards, affixing circuit boards into casings, screwing together the casings and cleaning off the devices. But human hands are still considerably cheaper for such jobs in China, although the cost gap is shrinking, with China's wages rising by a double-digit percentage annually.

An engineer tests an automated assembly line at the Delta Electronics research center. 'It's clear that automation is the future trend in China, but the big question is how to bring down the costs for robots,' said Delta Chairman Yancey Hai.

An engineer tests an automated assembly line at the Delta Electronics research center. 'It's clear that automation is the future trend in China, but the big question is how to bring down the costs for robots,' said Delta Chairman Yancey Hai.